An Analysis of The Alchemy of Race and Rights, an Autobiographical Incident Essay

In The Alchemy of Race and Riots an argument takes place between a Jewish student and a black student at Stanford University. They argue about the identity of Beethoven, the black student stating that Beethoven had black heritage while the white student found that idea to be preposterous. Clearly this upset the black student, who is given the name Q.C. Q.C. is angered by the fact that the white student is unwilling to believe that such a highly distinguished and honored composer such as Beethoven could have black roots.

To anger the black student even more, the white student, Fred, colored a picture of Beethoven black and wrote the word nigger on the black fraternity poster. Fred defended his actions by saying he was upset by all this emphasis on race, on blackness. Why cant we just all be human I think it denies ones humanity to be racial (111).

Fred further defended his actions by saying that what he did was meant to be humorous. As a German Jew Fred received teasing from his schoolmates about his being Jewish. Fred said that he learned to tolerate his classmates behavior and his defacing of the poster was in the spirit of what he had learned. He wondered why the black students couldnt respond to it in the spirit in which it was meant: nothing serious, just humor as a release (111). He said that the message behind it was to stop all this divisive black stuff and just be human (111). In response to his actions the university took no disciplinary action towards Fred. They felt that this would victimize him and strip him away off his right to freedom of speech.

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Patricia Williams, the author, takes a different response to Freds actions. She felt that this incident raised several issues: the privatization of remedy to Q.C., the invisibility of injury to anyone, and the pitting of the first amendment against speaking about other forms of injury (112). She insists upon some appreciation for the power of words and for the other forms of power abuses that may lurk behind the defense of free speech (112). Williams also believes that Stanford University limiting their investigation on the incident avoided group harm. The school took the case as a personal attack to Q.C., not the black community as a whole, and therefore was able to handle greater control over the situation.

As far as the controversy is concerned, I am in agreement with Williams. The defacing of the poster and coloring of the picture shows a generalization made by the white student. It shows his negativity towards blacks and his belief in black inferiority. Williams argues that blacks are always labeled the first of their kind to achieve something. However, this is not the case.

African Americans have made accomplishments for centuries and just are never recognized as a collective whole. Williams looks to the future when blacks achievements will become generalizations about our race and seen as contributions to the larger culture, rather than just exceptions to the rule, isolated abnormalities (113). Freds actions were a result of the humiliation he once suffered for being Jewish and he was passing that on to Q.C. Since Fred had learned to tolerate the discrimination he faced, he felt that it was fine for him to in turn discriminate against others. This just shows a complete sense of ignorance on the part of Fred.

This case is a perfect example of the injustices incurred by blacks over the years. Recognition is never given properly to the achievements of blacks. I never remember learning about any type of black history until I began taken black studies courses at the college level. From elementary school through high school I was only taught about Western accomplishments and if an individual did have black roots, I was never made aware. This continues to prove of the racism that still exists in society today. Although blacks are not being lynched, racism is still clearly prevalent in the United States, just in a more disguised fashion.

The Stanford case also shows the governments treatment of blacks, relating to the history of African Americans. Although on a smaller scale, Stanford is representative of the injustices blacks have suffered from the government. From the time of slavery, to voting rights, to affirmative action, no responsibility has been taken on by the American government to amend these woes. Just as in the case of Fred, the school has defended his right of freedom of speech and belittled the situation, instead of protecting the rights of Q.C. I know that if the tables were turned and the black student had made that type of derogatory statement to a white fraternity, punishment would have been swift and hard on Q.C., and my children would learn about it when they enter grade school.

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